Sheet sorter and an image forming apparatus
US6988728B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 16, 2003 |
| Grant date | Jan 24, 2006 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 25, 2023 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB65H39/11
- WIPO fieldHandling
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A sheet sorter including a plurality of trays on which sheets are to be placed, adapted to sort sheets by switching the trays on which the sheets are to be placed, and designed to enable users to easily find their own sheets even if no tray is designated. Trays are each provided with a sensor for detecting the presence or absence of sheets, and the tray bearing no sheet is preferentially selected as the tray on which a sheet is to be placed when no tray is designated. If there are a plurality of trays bearing no sheet, the uppermost one thereof is selected. If there is no tray bearing no sheet, the tray having a longest duration from the last time when the sheet is placed thereon is selected.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.